Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1887-02-05
CHAPTER II.
POISON IN HIS WHIsKEY.

POISON IN HIS WHIsKEY.
Jack Holden had died and a large con-
tingent of the Angels had just returned
from the funeral.
Seated in the back room, silence had
followed the remark by Keatsey, who'll
be next?"
The Colonel a tall fellow with a slender
figure and deep toned voice for one of his
build broke the silence.
"The one who drinks the least whiskey
perhaps. Let's drink to the memory of
Jack, whose sarcastic wit on many a cold
day has made us pretty hot"
Bring in the drinks, Rosy" shouted
Noisy Tom.
The barkeeper appeared at the door,
counted noses, soon returning with exactly
eleven straight whiskeys and no water.
The toast was drank in silence.
It was a dull, rainy afternoon, no n
suggested any diversion. The Angels
were plainly in a gloomy mood, SO they
wandered about, out and in, aimlessly ry-
ing to be at ease.
Noisy Tom was m~ew-ow-ing to the big
cat, Silent Sam was standing rigid as a
statue in a far corner, Keetsey was engag-
ing Frozen Jim with a description Of a
funeral at sea, Feeney was fretfully pac-
ing the floor while Ben. Sarc short for
sarcastic) was at the side window making
uncomplimentary comparisons upon the
movements Of passers by. Quite a num-
Der were outside the front door, secure
from falling drops under the friendly pro
lection of the awning. Still seated in the
back room were Smooth George, Dad
Rogers, Vic French and the Colonel. Dad
by virtue of his seniority was regarded by
his fellow Angels as a man of more than
ordinary wisdom. In some instances his
advanced years had taught him some things
which his younger associates had not yet
learned, but as a fact, for his age he was
not as wise as some of the rest, nor as he
should have been.
Dad with a fond stroke of his long
moustache, said:
"I've noticed that when a companion
dies, andis buried, his friends congregated
together after the funeral are either bois-
~terously jolly or gloomily dull"
eyes," answered the Colonel, "such fell
lows as we, are either naturally sad, or ar
tiicially merry"
"We're here today, away tomorrow"
broke in Smooth George, which wise an.
nouncement was amended by Vic French
with:
"If the whiskey don't give out, you'll be
here tomorrow"
Smooth George would not be silenced
so he proposed to shake the dice and set
tie it; who'll be here tomorrow and who'll
pay for the whiskey now"
For a wonder his offer was not accepted
by any of the other three. The refusal te
shake was followed by a pause, and ther
!, the Colonel arose saying:
"Come, take a drink with me-" which
offer was speedily accepted.
AS Rosy put out the bottle and glasses
the Colonel remarked:
, "a strong cigar for me, I'm going tt
!, quit for awhile"
His declaration made the others stare il
wide eyed establishment.
/ He quit? he, who in times of merry rev
elry declared "Old Bourbon anectar fit TO
Gods" who repeatedly assured other
that "the aqueous fluid is highly beneficial
f as an element in which to battle. Tn
watery expanse floats many a stout ship
e but as a beverage, none for the Colone.
: thank you.'' Who asserted that "exteriol
" applied, water is a boon to mankind; in
teriorly, its vile, sir" He quit, even fo
g awhile, whose voice was loudest in tn
Chorus of "come landlord fill the flown
n BOWL" who under the inspiring infiuenc
of corn juice could spout tragedy with
blood curdling realism which mad
strangers believe him a tragedian gor
e mad. He, forsake the product of Kel
o tucky's stills which at times soothed hi,
into sentimental noodles, caused his tongt
to repeat poem after poem. They wouldn
ir believe it and Smooth George entered b
st protest with: :
"stop the deal, there is something wror
IS with the cards."
a. But when he repeated his declaratio
e they knew he meant it, and when tn